Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-eight research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $105.12.

SBUX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Starbucks from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Barclays raised their price objective on Starbucks from $119.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Starbucks from an “underperform” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $76.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th.

Institutional Trading of Starbucks

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Retirement Planning Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Starbucks by 282.0% in the first quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 12,488 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $1,225,000 after buying an additional 9,219 shares during the period. Salvus Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Starbucks by 36.5% during the 1st quarter. Salvus Wealth Management LLC now owns 9,683 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $950,000 after acquiring an additional 2,589 shares in the last quarter. Thrive Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Starbucks by 6.8% in the 1st quarter. Thrive Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,125 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $405,000 after acquiring an additional 264 shares during the period. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. grew its position in Starbucks by 27.9% in the first quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 33,242 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $3,261,000 after acquiring an additional 7,250 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Matrix Trust Co raised its stake in shares of Starbucks by 29.6% during the first quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 1,380 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $135,000 after purchasing an additional 315 shares during the period. 72.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Starbucks Trading Down 4.6 %

Shares of SBUX opened at $84.60 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $96.10 billion, a PE ratio of 27.29, a P/E/G ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 1.00. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $102.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $98.85. Starbucks has a twelve month low of $71.55 and a twelve month high of $117.46.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.01. Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 44.97% and a net margin of 9.73%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.90 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Starbucks will post 2.99 EPS for the current year.

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be paid a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.88%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 16th. Starbucks’s dividend payout ratio is presently 78.71%.

About Starbucks

Starbucks Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a roaster, marketer, and retailer of coffee worldwide. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Channel Development. Its stores offer coffee and tea beverages, roasted whole beans and ground coffees, single serve products, and ready-to-drink beverages; and various food products, such as pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items.